Can of Cooking Spray Explodes, Critically Injuring a New Jersey Woman

A Toms River, New Jersey, woman suffered second- and third-degree burns to her face last week after a can of cooking spray she’d left near a burner on the stove exploded. The explosion started a fire that ignited the woman’s clothing, burning her face. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze and take the victim to the hospital. She is currently in stable condition at St. Barnabas Medical Center burn unit in Livingston, New Jersey.

According to Toms River chief fire inspector Kevin Esposito, "Cooking fires are the leading cause of residential fires and injuries caused by those fires.” Esposito told reporters for NJ.com that people often leave flammable or combustible materials near burners, starting fires they don’t know how to extinguish correctly.